Frost Dates for 48610 — Alger, Michigan

Half of springs at W Branch 3SE, MI see their last 32°F night by May 15; only one in ten is past it by April 29, and one in ten still has one after May 29. Planting tender crops after May 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 24 20%, and after May 29 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% of the 172 Michigan stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 4 in half of years, as early as September 21 one year in ten, and holds off past October 17 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 17; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 17, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 143 days in a typical year, shorter than at 72% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 163 days one year in ten and falls short of 123 one year in ten. On average 176 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 12 days longer, to about May 27, and return around September 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 21 and April 1.

July is the warmest month at W Branch 3SE, MI, averaging 80°F by day and 56°F at night; January is the coldest at 27°F and 10°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 85% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,090 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 72% of the 172 Michigan stations. 32% of them (659) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 569. Precipitation totals 33.6 inches a year, most in May (3.5") and least in February (1.6"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Standish 4NE, MI, 15 miles southeast of Alger and 270 feet lower, has a last frost 10 days earlier (May 5), a first frost 6 days later (October 10), a season 13 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Alger usually arrives around November 18, and the last of the season around April 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at W Branch 3SE, MI, 8.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 36 days after the last snow.

ZIP 48610 is 8 miles from W Branch 3SE, MI, which stands at 885 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 48661 (West Branch). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 48610 in zone 5b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.